Key retainer



July 12, 1966 L. SCHUMER 3,260,083

KEY RETAINER Filed May 19, 1964 INVENTOR. LOUIS SOHUMER MTW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,260,083 KEY RETAINER Louis Schumer, 5402 Beverly Road, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed May 19, 1964, Ser. No. 368,477 2 Claims. (Cl. 70456) The present invention relates to a novel key retainer particularly adapted for use with removable key rings.

A variety of key retainers ha ving removable key rings have heretofore been known in the art. However, the vast majority of such key retainers have complex structures in order to achieve the desired removability of such key rings. The use of springs, pivoted levers and the like have heretofore been utilized which have proven to be expensive and cumbersome. In addition to these costly and clumsy attempts to solve the removability problem of key rings in key retainers, some devices utilizing longitudinal movable bars have also been developed; However, these devices have also had shortcomings with reference to efiiciency and ease of operation. Some have proved awkward or too diflicult for the user to manipulate. Others may have solved the removability problem, but created a new problem pertaining to the retention of the key hangers in a locked position after prolonged periods of usage.

Accordingly, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple, efficient key retainer having removable key hangers and capable of being maintained in a locked position after prolonged usage.

Another objectof this invention is to provide an inexpensive key retainer having easily removable key hangers.

More specifically, the invention comprises a base plate having a forwardly extending tubular barrel integrally formed at one edge of said vided with vertical slots each formed with an enlarged opening through which the headed end of a key hanger can be inserted, the free edge of said barrel forming a narrow longitudinal passage with said base plate through which a closure slide provide-d with a longitudinal track enters said passageway and engages the free edge of said barrel to restrict movement of said slide to lateral (sidewise) travel along said track, said slide being provided with curved projecting arms to coincide with the enlarged openings in the slots of the barrel upon lateral movement of said slide, and said slide being provided with a forward- 'ly extending means at the side thereof for manipulating said slide, and a detent, spring-loaded by compression between said free edge of said barrel on said track for positively locking said baseplate against lateral movement thereof. More particularly, said closure slide is provided with an invisible detent or locking device comprising a projection situated on said track, and preferably in the center thereof, which engages apertures in the barrel.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled device in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the base plate.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the closure slide.

'FIG. 4 is a rear view of the closure slide.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the base plate.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the base plate.

'FIG. 7 is a top view of the closure slide.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the base plate.

FIG. 8a is a front elevational view of the assembled.

device in closed position.

FIG. 8b is a fragmentary front view of FIG. 8a, showing the slide in open position.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view on line 9-9 of FIG. 8a.

plate, said barrel being pro- 3,260,083 Patented July 12, 1966 FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view on line JO-10 of FIG. 8a.

Referring to the drawings, the key retainer comprises a rectilinear plate =1 provided with a forwardly extending tubular barrel 2 which is integrally formed at one edge of plate 1. Barrel 2 is provided with a plurality of vertical slot 3 which have enlarged openings 4 through which the head 5 of a key hanger 6 can be inserted. Plate 1 is also provided with a plurality of apertures 7 by means of which a leather sheath (not shown) is attached to the key retainer. Apertures 7 may be made by dimpling or by other suitable means. The sheath is assembled to the base plate by simply attaching the sheath to the rear face of apertures 7 in any suitable manner, such as by riveting or the like. It is understood that the sheath may be made out of leather, plastics and other synthetic materials.

Key hangers 6 are provided with heads 5 which are removably supported by slots 3. Since heads 5 are wider than slots 3, they may be inserted or removed from slots 3 via enlarged openings 4.

The closure slide as illustrated in FIGS. '3 and 4 particularly comprises a fiat member 8 having curved projecting arms 9 to coincide with enlarged openings 4 of slots 3. The slide is further provided with a track .10 which slidably fits within a narrow longitudinal passageway 11 formed by the free edge of barrel 2 and plate 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 8. Accordingly, the free edge of barrel 2 runs on track 10 of the closure slide thereby providing a greater tension on the base plate the full length of the track, and effecting a tighter and stronger fit between plate .1 and closure bar 8. The closure bar is further provided with projection 12 situated on track 10, preferably on the center thereof, which engages apertures 13 and 13a (in the closed and .open positions respectively) located on the edge of barrel 2 of base plate 1. An indent or depression 12a (FIG. 4) on the rear of the closure slide corresponds to the projection 12 on the front of the slide. Projection 12 may be round, oval or of any other suitable shape, preferably curved, to engage apertures 13 and 13a which are suitably spaced to permit the closing and opening respectively of openings 4 in slots 3. Apertures 13 and 13a have tapering sides terminating in rounded corners to facilitate the engagement and release of projection 12. Projection 112 and aperture 16 together form an invisible locking device. This locking device effects a tight fit between the plate and closure bar so that the key retainer cannot accidentally open and lose the key hangers. It is necessary to apply some pressure on slide 8 to disengage projection 12 from aperture 13 and permit projection '12 to engage aperture 13a, thereby unlocking the key chain for removal of key hangers.

In order to operate the slide, flange 14, which is bent at right angles to member 8, is grasped between a finger and thumb of operator and pulled laterally so that barrel 2 runs on track 10.

The key retainers of the present invention, as aforedescribed, possess several very essential differences heretofore unknown in the art, which render them particularly efficient and durable. The barrel of the base plate runs on a track built into the sliding or closure bar thereby affording a tight and close sliding fit between the two elements of a key retainer, thereby obviating jiggling or sticking which are common faults of prior art key retainers. Another essential difference resides in the invisible locking device which retains the two elements of the key retainer, namely the base plate and closure bar, in permanent juxtaposition with each other and permits only such movement therebetween as is necessary to oper or close the openings 4 carrying the heads of the ke3 chains. The two elements cannot be separated under normal pressure of the user but must be actually forcer apart by considerable pressure, thereby guaranteeing a key retainer which can be used for long periods of time without falling apart. The fact that the locking device is invisible precludes the users tampering with said looking device.

Thus it is apparent that the advantages of the instant key retainers are multiple, the major one being its durable nature for protracted usage. Secondly, the ease and simplicity of its operation is clearly evident by simply grasping flange 14 and sliding it laterally to open or close the key retainer. Thirdly, the efficiency of this novel key retainer exceeds those heretofore known and used by eliminating sticking or jiggling of the closure bar, either due to too tight a fit or an insufficiently tight fit between the closure bar and the base plate. Still another and very important advantage is its simple construction which permits easy assemblage and low cost in manufacture. Both the base plate and the closure slide can be inexpensively manufactured from sheet material and easily assembled on a mass production basis.

While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments thereof as hereinbefore set forth, it is clearly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but includes various modifications and equivalents within the scope of the instant invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A key retainer adapted to removably support key hangers comprising a base plate having a forwardly extending tubular barrel integrally formed at one edge of said plate, said barrel being provided with vertical slots each formed with an enlarged opening through which the headed end of a key hanger can be inserted, the free edge of said barrel forming a narrow longitudinal passageway with said base plate, a closure slide provided with a longitudinal track which enters said passageway and engages the free edge of said barrel to restrict movement of said slide to sidewise travel along said track, said slide being provided with curved projecting arms which coin- :ide with the enlarged openings in the slots of said barrel lpOIl lateral movement of said slide, and said slide em- )odying a forwardly extending means at the side thereof and permits lateral movement of for activating said slide, and a detention means compressed between said free edge of said barrel and said track comprising an aperture situated on said free edge which is engaged by a projection in said slide, for positively locking said base plate against sidewise movement thereof.

2. A key retainer adapted to removably support key hangers comprising a base plate provided with a forwardly extending tubular barrel integrally formed therewith, the free edge of said tubular barrel forming a narrow longitudinal passage with said base plate, said barrel being provided with vertical slots terminating in enlarged openings capable of receiving the enlarged heads of key hangers, said plate being provided with a plurality of aperture for attachment to a sheath, a closure bar provided with a longitudinal track which is in sliding contact with said narrow longitudinal passageway of said plate and engages the free edge of said barrel to restrict movement of said bar to lateral travel along said track, said closure bar being provided with curved projecting arms which coincide with the enlarged openings in said barrel upon lateral movement of said bar along said track, a projection situated in said track which engages a pair of apertures located on the edge of the barrel of said plate said bar thereby opening and closing said enlarged openings by means of a forwardly extending flange disposed at the side of said bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,846 5/1933 Howe.

2,407,153 9/1946 Hanna 456 2,583,360 1/1952 Duell 70456 2,648,215 8/1953 Hanna 70456 2,648,216 8/1953 Hanna 70456 2,709,358 5/1955 Duell 70456 2,780,089 2/1957 Duell 70456 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A KEY RETAINER ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY SUPPORT KEY HANGERS COMPRISING A BASE PLATE HAVING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING TUBULAR BARREL INTEGRALLY FORMED AT ONE EDGE OF SAID PLATE, SAID BARREL PROVIDED WITH VERTICAL SLOTS EACH FORMED WITH AN ENLARGED OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE HEADED END OF A KEY HANGER CAN BE INSERTED, THE FREE EDGE OF SAID BARREL FORMING A NARROW LONGITUDINAL PASSAGEWAY WITH SAID BASE PLATE, A CLOSURE SLIDE PROVIDED WITH A LONGITUDINAL TRACK WHICH ENTERS PASSAGEWAY AND ENGAGES THE FREE EDGE OF SAID BARREL TO RESTRICT MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE TO SIDEWISE TRAVEL ALONG SAID TRACK, SAID SLIDE BEING PROVIDED WITH CURVED PROJECTING ARMS WHICH COINCIDE WITH THE ENLARGED OPENINGS IN THE SLOTS OF SAID BARREL UPON LATERAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SLIDE, AND SAID SLIDE EMBODYING A FORWARDLY EXTENDING MEANS AT THE SIDE THEREOF FOR ACTUATING SAID SLIDE, AND A DETENTION MEANS COMPRESSSED BETWEEN SAID FREE EDGES OF SAID BARREL AND SAID TRACK COMPRISING AN APERTURE SITUATED ON SAID FREE EDGE WHICH IS ENGAGED BY A PROJECTION IN SAID SLIDE, FOR POSITIVELY LOCKING SAID BASE PLATE AGAINST SIDEWISE MOVEMENT THEREOF. 